Porcupine is significant as a 5-limit temperament because it is the only 5-limit temperament other than meantone which possesses a 7-note MOS scale that is well-supplied with 5-limit major and minor triads (specifically, it has two of each of them). What is perhaps more significant about it is how naturally it extends those triads to involve the 11th harmonic; for instance, the first five consecutive notes of the Lssssss mode approximate the consecutive harmonics 8:9:10:11:12. This makes it a prime candidate for using extended JI-style harmonies in a compact and intuitive scale structure.
It is also significant because it is supported by both 15edo and 22edo, the smallest ETs which improve on the 11-limit damage of 12edo (other than 19edo). In those ETs, Porcupine is an excellent candidate for providing a 7-nominal notational basis and 7-interval-class categorical framework for those ETs (which is important because it allows 5-limit major and minor triads to share a triad class, in keeping with common-practice conventions). Or, in other words, if you want to use 15edo or 22edo in such a way that allows you to think of 5/4 and 6/5 as types of "third", and 3/2 as a type of "fifth", thinking of those ETs in terms of porcupine temperament is the ideal conceptual approach. (To be continued...)
Brief Intro to Modal Harmony and MODMOSes
Porcupine is a temperament completely capable of diverse harmony. Using it's MOS in conjunction with it's modmos will allow for some very diverse chordal movement that will still be tonally solid. Porcupine mode and modmos names are based on animal names because none of the scales remotely are similar to any existing mode name from anywhere. The initial four modes: Porcupine, Chinchilla, Zebra, and Dingo all contain 3/2 from the root while the latter three: Gazelle, Lemur, and Panda lack 3/2 and instead have a triad similar to a diminished triad on the root. In order to remedy this problem, it may be fruitful to use other methods than triadic tertian harmony to build tonal frameworks in porcupine.
Because the generator of porcupine is simultaneously 10/9, 11/10, and 12/11, a chord made up of consecutive generators approximates 9:10:11:12; since -6 generators approximates 9/8, the chord 8:9:10:11:12 can be approximated by a series of consecutive 2nds in the 7-note MOS. William Lynch considers varying subsets of 8:9:10:11:12 to work really well for building harmonic movement in porcupine. In addition, the second inversion which produces chords of stacked sevenths of varying sizes, also works well as an additional sonority to create better voice leading and variety. If the mode position of porcupine contains no 3/2 from the root, then a chord without 3/2 is played on the root.
The MODMOS scales of porcupine can be used in conjunction with the regular MOS in order to build powerful tonal movement. While each useful MODMOS has it's own distinct name, they most likely will be useful to use as a particular function in each porcupine mode. They can also be used stand alone but little is known about the very complex system of tonality.
Reasons Why Porcupine Will Make for The Best Modal Harmony Ever
The 7-note MOS of porcupine is great, but it lumps all the consonant chords together at one end of the scale (see below). It also fails to contain a complete 11-limit otonal hexad (4:5:6:7:9:11), even though porcupine is not excessively complex in the 11-limit. Thankfully, unlike in meantone[7] where the MODMOSs all reduce the number of consonant triads available, there are several MODMOSs of porcupine that contain an equal or greater number of consonant triads to the MOS (these are highlighted in blue text below). These MODMOSs also conveniently alter the distribution of triads within the scale, providing much-needed variety of possible chord progessions. Even better, some single-alteration MODMOSs make at least one full 11-limit hexad available, meaning 6 of the 7 notes of the scale can be sounded simultaneously and produce a consonant otonal harmony. The fact that porcupine temperament provides not just one 7-note scale but several that are equally-rich in harmonic resources makes it extremely fertile for modal harmony. (To be continued...)
Porcupine[7] and its MODMOSs
The below mode names are given in UDP notation. For porcupine[7], the chroma-aligned generator is the 9/5, or the 11/6 if you prefer. All generators below refer to this generator, NOT the 10/9 one. For an explanation of the spellings, see Porcupine Notation. William Lynch proposed the fun idea of naming modes of porcupine by various animal names.
The scale's nominals can be named by the normal 7 tone alphabet starting G but some feel that with superpyth using the same nominals in an entirely opposite way, it may be beneficial to use an entirely different set of letters for porcupine which William Lynch created using old-english alphabet allowing for both porcupine[8] and porcupine[7] to be notated by leaving out "ð" from the scale.
Porcupine[8]: b c ð d e f þ æ
Porcupine[7]: b c d e f þ æ with chinchillian mode on "c"
pronounced "Be - Ce - Eth - De - E - Eff - Thorn - Ash"
MODMOS with 1st note in generator chain flattened: #.......###### Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
5333332
4222221
6|0 ^2^3^4^5^6^7
G A^ B^ C^ D^ E^ F^
2533333
1422222
5|1 v2
G Avv B C D E F
3253333
2142222
4|2 v3
G Av Bvv C D E F
3325333
2214222
3|3 v4
G Av Bv Cvv D E F
3332533
2221422
2|4 v5
G Av Bv Cv Dvv E F
3333253
2222142
1|5 v6
G Av Bv Cv Dv Evv F
3333325
2222214
0|6 v7
G Av Bv Cv Dv Ev Fvv
MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain flattened: #.....#.##### Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
4333324
3222213
6|0 v7
G A B C D E Fv
8:9:10:11:12:14 hexad on the tonic,
in both 15edo and 22edo as G-A-B-C-D-Fv
4433332
3322221
6|0 ^3^4^5^6^7
G A B^ C^ D^ E^ F^
2443333
1332222
4|2 v2
G Avv Bv C D E F
3244333
2133222
3|3 v3
G Av Bvv Cv D E F
3324433
2213322
2|4 v4
G Av Bv Cvv Dv E F
3332443
2221332
1|5 v5
G Av Bv Cv Dvv Ev F
3333244
2222133
0|6 v6
G Av Bv Cv Dv Evv Fv
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain flattened: #....##.#### Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
4333243
3222132
6|0 v6
G A B C D Ev F
3433324
2322213
5|1 v7
G Av B C D E Fv
4343332
3232221
6|0 ^4^5^6^7
G A B C^ D^ E^ F^
2434333
1323222
3|3 v2
G Avv Bv Cv D E F
3243433
2132322
2|4 v3
G Av Bvv Cv Dv E F
3324343
2213232
1|5 v4
G Av Bv Cvv Dv Ev F
3332434
2221323
0|6 v5
G Av Bv Cv Dvv Ev Fv
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain flattened: #...###.### Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
4332433
3221322
6|0 v5
G A B C Dv E F
3433243
2322132
5|1 v6
G Av B C D Ev F
3343324
2232213
4|2 v7
G Av Bv C D E Fv
4334332
3223221
6|0 ^5^6^7
G A B C D^ E^ F^
2433433
1322322
2|4 v2
G Avv Bv Cv Dv E F
3243343
2132232
1|5 v3
G Av Bvv Cv Dv Ev F
3324334
2213223
0|6 v4
G Av Bv Cvv Dv Ev Fv
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain flattened: #..####.## Reptiles Consists of unbroken chains of 4/3s
Mode Name
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
Lizard
4324333
3213222
6|0 v4
G A B Cv D E F
I, IV, v, vi "mixolydian-like"*
Iguana
3432433
2321322
5|1 v5
G Av B C Dv E F
Serpent
3343243
2232132
4|2 v6
G Av Bv C D Ev F
i, III, VI, vii
Iguana
3334324
2223213
3|3 v7
G Av Bv Cv D E Fv
i, ii, IV, VII "dorian-like"
Chameleon
4333432
3222321
6|0 ^6^7
G A B C D E^ F^
I, ii, iii, V "ionian-like";
8:9:10:11:12:14:15 on the tonic in 15edo as G-A-B-C-D-E^-F^
(but not in 22edo)
Igliashon finds it the "most grounded",
and suggests it as a candidate for "default major"
Crocodile
2433343
1322232
1|5 v2
G Avv Bv Cv Dv Ev F
Turtle
3243334
2132223
0|6 v3
G Av Bvv Cv Dv Ev Fv
This kind of description is obviously stupid because these porcupine scales are not really like the diatonic modes "mixolydian", "dorian", etc. As always, feel free to edit if you have some better description.
Symmetrical MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain sharpened or 6th note flattened: #.#####.# Farm Animals Consists of unbroken chains of 4/3s Has the most evenly-distributed 5-limit triads of all the MODMOSs
Mode Name
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name #1
UDP Name #2
Spelling
Other Notes
Horse
4333342
3222231
6|0 ^7
(1|5 v1)
G A B C D E F^
I ii° iii iv° V vi vii°
Major with major V chord (most major-sounding major)
Pig
2433334
1322223
(5|1 ^1)
0|6 v2
G Avv Bv Cv Dv Ev Fv
i° II iii° iv v° VI vii
Magical seventh
Sheep
4243333
3132222
4|2 ^2
6|0 v3
G A Bv C D E F
i ii° III iv° v vi° VII
Minor with minor v chord (most minor-sounding minor)
Cow
3424333
2313222
3|3 ^3
5|1 v4
G Av B Cv D E F
I ii iii° IV v° vi vii°
Major with major IV chord
Llama
3342433
2231322
2|4 ^4
4|2 v5
G Av Bv C Dv E F
i° II iii iv° V vi° vii
Symmetric diminished
Goat
3334243
2223132
1|5 ^5
3|3 v6
G Av Bv Cv D Ev F
i ii° III iv v° VI vii°
Minor with minor iv
Rooster
3333424
2222313
0|6 ^6
2|4 v7
G Av Bv Cv Dv E Fv
i° ii iii° IV v vi° VII
Magical seventh
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain sharpened: ##.####..# Big Cats Consists of unbroken chains of 4/3s
Mode Name
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
Lionian
4333423
3222312
6|0 ^6
G A B C D E^ F
I, ii, v, VII "mixolydian-like"
8:9:10:11:12:14 on the tonic in 15edo only
Tigonian
3433342
2322231
5|1 ^7
G Av B C D E F^
I, II, iii, vi
Cougian
2343334
1232223
0|6 v2 v3
G Avv Bvv Cv Dv Ev Fv
Leopardian
4234333
3123222
3|3 ^2
G A Bv Cv D E F
i, III, IV, v "dorian-like"
Keenan and Igliashon both find this exceptionally beautiful
and suggest it as a candidate for default "minor"
Cheetian
3423433
2312322
2|4 ^3
G Av B Cv Dv E F
Jaguarian
3342343
2231232
1|5 ^4
G Av Bv C Dv Ev F
Pantherian
3334234
2223123
0|6 ^5
G Av Bv Cv D Ev Fv
i, iv, VI, VII "aeolian-like"
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain sharpened: ###.###...# Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
4334233
3223122
6|0 ^5
G A B C D^ E F
3433423
2322312
5|1 ^6
G Av B C D E^ F
3343342
2232231
4|2 ^7
G Av Bv C D E F^
2334334
1223223
0|6 v2v3v4
G Avv Bvv Cvv Dv Ev Fv
4233433
3122322
2|4 ^2
G A Bv Cv Dv E F
3423343
2312232
1|5 ^3
G Av B Cv Dv Ev F
3342334
2231223
0|6 ^4
G Av Bv C Dv Ev Fv
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain sharpened: ####.##....# Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
4342333
3231222
6|0 ^4
G A B C^ D E F
3434233
2323122
5|1 ^5
G Av B C D^ E F
3343423
2232312
4|2 ^6
G Av Bv C D E^ F
3334342
2223231
3|3 ^7
G Av Bv Cv D E F^
2333434
1222323
0|6 v2v3v4v5
G Avv Bvv Cvv Dvv Ev Fv
4233343
3122232
1|5 ^2
G A Bv Cv Dv Ev F
3423334
2312223
0|6 ^3
G Av B Cv Dv Ev Fv
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain sharpened: #####.#.....# Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
4423333
3312222
6|0 ^3
G A B^ C D E F
3442333
2331222
5|1 ^4
G Av B C^ D E F
3344233
2233122
4|2 ^5
G Av Bv C D^ E F
3334423
2223312
3|3 ^6
G Av Bv Cv D E^ F
3333442
2222331
2|4 ^7
G Av Bv Cv Dv E F^
2333344
1222233
0|6 v2v3v4v5v6
G Avv Bvv Cvv Dvv Evv Fv
4233334
3122223
0|6 ^2
G A Bv Cv Dv Ev Fv
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain sharpened: ######.......# Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
5233333
4122222
6|0 ^2
G A^ B C D E F
3523333
2412222
5|1 ^3
G Av B^ C D E F
3352333
2241222
4|2 ^4
G Av Bv C^ D E F
3335233
2224122
3|3 ^5
G Av Bv Cv D^ E F
3333523
2222412
2|4 ^6
G Av Bv Cv Dv E^ F
3333352
2222241
1|5 ^7
G Av Bv Cv Dv Ev F^
2333335
1222224
0|6 v2v3v4v5v6v7
G Avv Bvv Cvv Dvv Evv Fvv
Notable double-alteration MODMOS's
22edo Steps
15edo Steps
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
4324342
3213231
6|0 v4 ^7
G A B Cv D E F^
"JI Major" scale a.k.a. Ptolemy/Zarlino
4234243
3123132
3|3 ^2 v6
G A Bv Cv D Ev F
"JI Minor" scale
Porcupine[8] and its MODMOS's
All generators below refer to the porcupine[8] chroma-positive generator (the 10/9~11/10~whatever). William Lynch Proposes naming the modes off of sea creatures with Octopus being relevant of the number eight.
The Porcupine[8] MOS
Mode Name
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Traditional Spelling
Other Notes
Octopus
33333331
7|0
A B C D E F G H
Mantis
33333313
6|1
A B C D E F G Hb
Dolphin
33333133
5|2
A B C D E F Gb Hb
Crab
33331333
4|3
A B C D E Fb Gb Hb
Tuna
33313333
3|4
A B C D Eb Fb Gb Hb
Salmon
33133333
2|5
A B C Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
Starfish
31333333
1|6
A B Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
Whale
13333333
0|7
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
Single-alteration MODMOS's
Alterations by porcupine[8] chroma
MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain flattened:#......#.######
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
15333331
7|0 b2
A Bb C D E F G H
53333311
7|0 #2#3#4#5#6#7
A B# C# D# E# F# G# H
33333115
5|2 b8
A B C D E F Gb Hbb
33331153
4|3 b7
A B C D E Fb Gbb Hb
33311533
3|4 b6
A B C D Eb Fbb Gb Hb
33115333
2|5 b5
A B C Db Ebb Fb Gb Hb
31153333
1|6 b4
A B Cb Dbb Eb Fb Gb Hb
11533333
0|7 b3
A Bb Cbb Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain flattened:#.....##.#####
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
31533331
7|0 b3
A B Cb D E F G H
15333313
6|1 b2
A Bb C D E F G Hb
53333131
7|0 #2#3#4#5#6
A B# C# D# E# F# G H
33331315
4|3 b8
A B C D E Fb Gb Hbb
33313153
3|4 b7
A B C D Eb Fb Gbb Hb
33131533
2|5 b6
A B C Db Eb Fbb Gb Hb
31315333
1|6 b5
A B Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb Hb
13153333
0|7 b4
A Bb Cb Dbb Eb Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain flattened:#....###.####
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33153331
7|0 b4
A B C Db E F G H
31533313
6|1 b3
A B Cb D E F G Hb
15333133
5|2 b2
A Bb C D E F Gb Hb
53331331
7|0 #2#3#4#5
A B# C# D# E# F G H
33313315
3|4 b8
A B C D Eb Fb Gb Hbb
33133153
2|5 b7
A B C Db Eb Fb Gbb Hb
31331533
1|6 b6
A B Cb Db Eb Fbb Gb Hb
13315333
0|7 b5
A Bb Cb Db Ebb Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain flattened:#...####.###
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33315331
7|0 b5
A B C D Eb F G H
33153313
6|1 b4
A B C Db E F G Hb
31533133
5|2 b3
A B Cb D E F Gb Hb
15331333
4|3 b2
A Bb C D E Fb Gb Hb
53313331
7|0 #2#3#4
A B# C# D# E F G H
33133315
2|5 b8
A B C Db Eb Fb Gb Hbb
31333153
1|6 b7
A B Cb Db Eb Fb Gbb Hb
13331533
0|7 b6
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fbb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain flattened:#..#####.##
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33331531
7|0 b6
A B C D E Fb G H
33315313
6|1 b5
A B C D Eb F G Hb
33153133
5|2 b4
A B C Db E F Gb Hb
31531333
4|3 b3
A B Cb D E Fb Gb Hb
15313333
3|4 b2
A Bb C D Eb Fb Gb Hb
53313331
7|0 #2#3
A B# C# D E F G H
33133315
1|6 b8
A B Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Hbb
31333153
0|7 b7
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gbb Hb
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain flattened or 2nd sharpened:#.######.#
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33333151
7|0 b7
A B C D E F Gb H
33331513
6|1 b6
A B C D E Fb G Hb
33315133
5|2 b5
A B C D Eb F Gb Hb
33151333
4|3 b4
A B C Db E Fb Gb Hb
31513333
3|4 b3
A B Cb D Eb Fb Gb Hb
15133333
2|5 b2
A Bb C Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
51333331
7|0 #2
A B# C D E F G H
13333315
0|7 b8
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Hbb
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain sharpened:##.#####..#
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
35133331
7|0 #3
A B C# D E F G H
51333313
6|1 #2
A B# C D E F G Hb
13333135
0|7 b7b8
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gbb Hbb
33331351
4|3 #8
A B C D E Fb Gb H
33313513
3|4 #7
A B C D Eb Fb G Hb
33135133
2|5 #6
A B C Db Eb F Gb Hb
31351333
1|6 #5
A B Cb Db E Fb Gb Hb
13513333
0|7 #4
A Bb Cb D Eb Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain sharpened:###.####...#
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33513331
7|0 #4
A B C D# E F G H
35133331
6|1 #3
A B C# D E F G Hb
51333313
5|2 #2
A B# C D E F Gb Hb
13333135
0|7 b6b7b8
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fbb Gbb Hbb
33331351
3|4 #8
A B C D Eb Fb Gb H
33313513
2|5 #7
A B C Db Eb Fb G Hb
33135133
1|6 #6
A B Cb Db Eb F Gb Hb
31351333
0|7 #5
A Bb Cb Db E Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain sharpened:####.###....#
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33351331
7|0 #5
A B C D E# F G H
33513331
6|1 #4
A B C D# E F G Hb
35133313
5|2 #3
A B C# D E F Gb Hb
51333133
4|3 #2
A B# C D E Fb Gb Hb
13331335
0|7 b5b6b7b8
A Bb Cb Db Ebb Fbb Gbb Hbb
33313351
2|5 #8
A B C Db Eb Fb Gb H
33133513
1|6 #7
A B Cb Db Eb Fb G Hb
31335133
0|7 #6
A Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb Hb
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain sharpened:#####.##.....#
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33335131
7|0 #6
A B C D E F# G H
33351313
6|1 #5
A B C D E# F G Hb
33513133
5|2 #4
A B C D# E F Gb Hb
35131333
4|3 #3
A B C# D E Fb Gb Hb
51313333
3|4 #2
A B# C D Eb Fb Gb Hb
13133335
0|7 b4b5b6b7b8
A Bb Cb Dbb Ebb Fbb Gbb Hbb
31333351
1|6 #8
A B Cb Db Eb Fb Gb H
13333513
0|7 #7
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb G Hb
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain sharpened:######.#......#
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33333511
7|0 #7
A B C D E F G# H
33335113
6|1 #6
A B C D E F# G Hb
33351133
5|2 #5
A B C D E# F Gb Hb
33511333
4|3 #4
A B C D# E Fb Gb Hb
35113333
3|4 #3
A B C# D Eb Fb Gb Hb
51133333
2|5 #2
A B# C Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
11333335
0|7 b3b4b5b6b7b8
A Bb Cbb Dbb Ebb Fbb Gbb Hbb
13333351
0|7 #8
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb H
Alterations by Porcupine[7] chroma
MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain flattened
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
24333331
7|0 v2
A Bv C D E F G H
43333312
6|1 ^2^3^4^5^6^7^8
A B^ C^ D^ E^ F^ G^ Hb^
33333124
5|2 v8
A B C D E F Gb Hbv
33331243
4|3 v7
A B C D E Fb Gbv Hb
33312433
3|4 v6
A B C D Eb Fbv Gb Hb
33124333
2|5 v5
A B C Db Ebv Fb Gb Hb
31243333
1|6 v4
A B Cb Dbv Eb Fb Gb Hb
12433333
0|7 v3
A Bb Cbv Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain flattened
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
32433331
7|0 v3
A B Cv D E F G H
24333313
6|1 v2
A Bv C D E F G Hb
43333132
5|2 ^2^3^4^5^6^7^8
A B^ C^ D^ E^ F^ Gb^ Hb^
33331324
4|3 v8
A B C D E Fb Gb Hbv
33313243
3|4 v7
A B C D Eb Fb Gbv Hb
33132433
2|5 v6
A B C Db Eb Fbv Gb Hb
31324333
1|6 v5
A B Cb Db Ebv Fb Gb Hb
13243333
0|7 v4
A Bb Cb Dbv Eb Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain flattened
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33243331
7|0 v4
A B C Dv E F G H
32433313
6|1 v3
A B Cv D E F G Hb
24333133
5|2 v2
A Bv C D E F Gb Hb
43331332
4|3 ^2^3^4^5^6^7^8
A B^ C^ D^ E^ Fb^ Gb^ Hb^
33313324
3|4 v8
A B C D Eb Fb Gb Hbv
33133243
2|5 v7
A B C Db Eb Fb Gbv Hb
31332433
1|6 v6
A B Cb Db Eb Fbv Gb Hb
13324333
0|7 v5
A Bb Cb Db Ebv Fb Gb Hb
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain flattened
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33324331
7|0 v5
A B C D Ev F G H
33243313
6|1 v4
A B C Dv E F G Hb
32433133
5|2 v3
A B Cv D E F Gb Hb
24331333
4|3 v2
A Bv C D E Fb Gb Hb
43313332
3|4 ^2^3^4^5^6^7^8
A B^ C^ D^ Eb^ Fb^ Gb^ Hb^
33133324
2|5 v8
A B C Db Eb Fb Gb Hbv
31333243
1|6 v7
A B Cb Db Eb Fb Gbv Hb
13332433
0|7 v6
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fbv Gb Hb
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain flattened
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33332431
7|0 v6
A B C D E Fv G H
33324313
6|1 v5
A B C D Ev F G Hb
33243133
5|2 v4
A B C Dv E F Gb Hb
32431333
4|3 v3
A B Cv D E Fb Gb Hb
24313333
3|4 v2
A Bv C D Eb Fb Gb Hb
43133332
2|5 ^2^3^4^5^6^7^8
A B^ C^ Db^ Eb^ Fb^ Gb^ Hb^
31333324
1|6 v8
A B Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Hbv
13333243
0|7 v7
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gbv Hb
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain flattened
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33333241
7|0 v7
A B C D E F Gv H
33332413
6|1 v6
A B C D E Fv G Hb
33324133
5|2 v5
A B C D Ev F Gb Hb
33241333
4|3 v4
A B C Dv E Fb Gb Hb
32413333
3|4 v3
A B Cv D Eb Fb Gb Hb
24133333
2|5 v2
A Bv C Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
41333332
1|6 ^2^3^4^5^6^7^8
A B^ Cb^ Db^ Eb^ Fb^ Gb^ Hb^
13333324
0|7 v8
A Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Hbv
MODMOS with 8th note in generator chain flattened
Step Pattern
UDP Name
Spelling
Other Notes
33333322
7|0 v8
A B C D E F G Hv
33333223
6|1 v7
A B C D E F Gv Hb
33332233
5|2 v6
A B C D E Fv Gb Hb
33322333
4|3 v5
A B C D Ev Fb Gb Hb
33223333
3|4 v4
A B C Dv Eb Fb Gb Hb
32233333
2|5 v3
A B Cv Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
22333333
1|6 v2
A Bv Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Hb
23333332
0|7 ^2^3^4^5^6^7^8
A Bb^ Cb^ Db^ Eb^ Fb^ Gb^ Hb^
MODMOS with 1st note in generator chain sharpened (in 22edo this gives same modes as flattening 8th note)
Table of Contents
Intro To Porcupine
Porcupine is significant as a 5-limit temperament because it is the only 5-limit temperament other than meantone which possesses a 7-note MOS scale that is well-supplied with 5-limit major and minor triads (specifically, it has two of each of them). What is perhaps more significant about it is how naturally it extends those triads to involve the 11th harmonic; for instance, the first five consecutive notes of the Lssssss mode approximate the consecutive harmonics 8:9:10:11:12. This makes it a prime candidate for using extended JI-style harmonies in a compact and intuitive scale structure.It is also significant because it is supported by both 15edo and 22edo, the smallest ETs which improve on the 11-limit damage of 12edo (other than 19edo). In those ETs, Porcupine is an excellent candidate for providing a 7-nominal notational basis and 7-interval-class categorical framework for those ETs (which is important because it allows 5-limit major and minor triads to share a triad class, in keeping with common-practice conventions). Or, in other words, if you want to use 15edo or 22edo in such a way that allows you to think of 5/4 and 6/5 as types of "third", and 3/2 as a type of "fifth", thinking of those ETs in terms of porcupine temperament is the ideal conceptual approach. (To be continued...)
Brief Intro to Modal Harmony and MODMOSes
Porcupine is a temperament completely capable of diverse harmony. Using it's MOS in conjunction with it's modmos will allow for some very diverse chordal movement that will still be tonally solid. Porcupine mode and modmos names are based on animal names because none of the scales remotely are similar to any existing mode name from anywhere. The initial four modes: Porcupine, Chinchilla, Zebra, and Dingo all contain 3/2 from the root while the latter three: Gazelle, Lemur, and Panda lack 3/2 and instead have a triad similar to a diminished triad on the root. In order to remedy this problem, it may be fruitful to use other methods than triadic tertian harmony to build tonal frameworks in porcupine.Because the generator of porcupine is simultaneously 10/9, 11/10, and 12/11, a chord made up of consecutive generators approximates 9:10:11:12; since -6 generators approximates 9/8, the chord 8:9:10:11:12 can be approximated by a series of consecutive 2nds in the 7-note MOS. William Lynch considers varying subsets of 8:9:10:11:12 to work really well for building harmonic movement in porcupine. In addition, the second inversion which produces chords of stacked sevenths of varying sizes, also works well as an additional sonority to create better voice leading and variety. If the mode position of porcupine contains no 3/2 from the root, then a chord without 3/2 is played on the root.
The MODMOS scales of porcupine can be used in conjunction with the regular MOS in order to build powerful tonal movement. While each useful MODMOS has it's own distinct name, they most likely will be useful to use as a particular function in each porcupine mode. They can also be used stand alone but little is known about the very complex system of tonality.
Reasons Why Porcupine Will Make for The Best Modal Harmony Ever
The 7-note MOS of porcupine is great, but it lumps all the consonant chords together at one end of the scale (see below). It also fails to contain a complete 11-limit otonal hexad (4:5:6:7:9:11), even though porcupine is not excessively complex in the 11-limit. Thankfully, unlike in meantone[7] where the MODMOSs all reduce the number of consonant triads available, there are several MODMOSs of porcupine that contain an equal or greater number of consonant triads to the MOS (these are highlighted in blue text below). These MODMOSs also conveniently alter the distribution of triads within the scale, providing much-needed variety of possible chord progessions. Even better, some single-alteration MODMOSs make at least one full 11-limit hexad available, meaning 6 of the 7 notes of the scale can be sounded simultaneously and produce a consonant otonal harmony. The fact that porcupine temperament provides not just one 7-note scale but several that are equally-rich in harmonic resources makes it extremely fertile for modal harmony.(To be continued...)
Porcupine[7] and its MODMOSs
The below mode names are given in UDP notation. For porcupine[7], the chroma-aligned generator is the 9/5, or the 11/6 if you prefer. All generators below refer to this generator, NOT the 10/9 one. For an explanation of the spellings, see Porcupine Notation. William Lynch proposed the fun idea of naming modes of porcupine by various animal names.
The scale's nominals can be named by the normal 7 tone alphabet starting G but some feel that with superpyth using the same nominals in an entirely opposite way, it may be beneficial to use an entirely different set of letters for porcupine which William Lynch created using old-english alphabet allowing for both porcupine[8] and porcupine[7] to be notated by leaving out "ð" from the scale.
Porcupine[8]: b c ð d e f þ æ
Porcupine[7]: b c d e f þ æ with chinchillian mode on "c"
pronounced "Be - Ce - Eth - De - E - Eff - Thorn - Ash"
The Porcupine[7] MOS
Single-alteration MODMOS's
MODMOS with 1st note in generator chain flattened: #.......######Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain flattened: #.....#.#####
Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
in both 15edo and 22edo as G-A-B-C-D-Fv
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain flattened: #....##.####
Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain flattened: #...###.###
Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain flattened: #..####.## Reptiles
Consists of unbroken chains of 4/3s
8:9:10:11:12:14:15 on the tonic in 15edo as G-A-B-C-D-E^-F^
(but not in 22edo)
Igliashon finds it the "most grounded",
and suggests it as a candidate for "default major"
Symmetrical MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain sharpened or 6th note flattened: #.#####.# Farm Animals
Consists of unbroken chains of 4/3s
Has the most evenly-distributed 5-limit triads of all the MODMOSs
Major with major V chord (most major-sounding major)
Magical seventh
Minor with minor v chord (most minor-sounding minor)
Major with major IV chord
Symmetric diminished
Minor with minor iv
Magical seventh
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain sharpened: ##.####..# Big Cats
Consists of unbroken chains of 4/3s
8:9:10:11:12:14 on the tonic in 15edo only
Keenan and Igliashon both find this exceptionally beautiful
and suggest it as a candidate for default "minor"
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain sharpened: ###.###...#
Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain sharpened: ####.##....#
Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain sharpened: #####.#.....#
Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain sharpened: ######.......#
Note: Contains a broken 4/3 chain so it has only 3 4/3s
Notable double-alteration MODMOS's
Porcupine[8] and its MODMOS's
All generators below refer to the porcupine[8] chroma-positive generator (the 10/9~11/10~whatever). William Lynch Proposes naming the modes off of sea creatures with Octopus being relevant of the number eight.The Porcupine[8] MOS
Single-alteration MODMOS's
Alterations by porcupine[8] chroma
MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain flattened: #......#.######MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain flattened: #.....##.#####
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain flattened: #....###.####
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain flattened: #...####.###
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain flattened: #..#####.##
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain flattened or 2nd sharpened: #.######.#
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain sharpened: ##.#####..#
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain sharpened: ###.####...#
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain sharpened: ####.###....#
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain sharpened: #####.##.....#
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain sharpened: ######.#......#
Alterations by Porcupine[7] chroma
MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain flattenedMODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain flattened
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain flattened
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain flattened
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain flattened
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain flattened
MODMOS with 8th note in generator chain flattened
MODMOS with 1st note in generator chain sharpened (in 22edo this gives same modes as flattening 8th note)
MODMOS with 2nd note in generator chain sharpened
MODMOS with 3rd note in generator chain sharpened
MODMOS with 4th note in generator chain sharpened
MODMOS with 5th note in generator chain sharpened
MODMOS with 6th note in generator chain sharpened
MODMOS with 7th note in generator chain sharpened